For the second time since free agency began, the Rockets lost a key part of their 65-win rotation, with forward Luc Mbah a Moute agreeing to a one-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Just days after Trevor Ariza officially signed his one-year, $15 million deal with the Suns, Mbah a Moute accepted a one-year, $4.3 million contract with the Clippers. ESPN was the first to report the agreement.

The Rockets are optimistic that they can sign 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony when he becomes a free agent, two individuals with knowledge of the team's thinking said late on Monday. But with Mbah a Moute and Ariza both gone from a team that improved to sixth defensively, the Rockets are likely to also seek a young prospect with strong potential defensively.

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The Rockets have shown interest in James Ennis, who has played for four teams in four seasons, most recently the Pistons; Treveon Graham, a free agent who played sparingly for the Charlotte Hornets last season, and James Nunnally, an outstanding shooter with defensive ability that played in Turkey.

They could have offered Mbah a Moute up to $5.3 million, their taxpayer mid-level exception, but could have sought to save that, or much of it for Anthony. His one-year deal with the Rockets, if they were not using their mid-level exception, would have been worth $2.9 million, but would have given him early Bird right next summer to exceed the salary cap to re-sign with the Rockets.

Instead, while still trying to get a deal with center Clint Capela, the Rockets will be trying to make up for summer losses with the "run it back" plan taking a second major hit.

Browse through the photos above for an updated look at NBA free agency with who's left to sign and who has signed already.